Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-05-07
GRAZING N TILLAGE.
Extensive Irrigation Schemes In
California.

The great irrigation schemes in Cali
fornia are invested with deep interest for
such parts of Montana as require artificial
moisture. From many localities in that
state come reports of the Inauguration OF
irrigation enterprises of greater or less
magnitude, but all showing that the grow
ing tendency among farmers and land
owners. even in those sections where arti-
fetal moisture is not an Indispensable re-
quisite for successful farming, to remove
the least danger incurred from lack OF
necessary rainfall by the diversion upon
their lands of water from the numerous
streams yet not utilized for this purpose.
One of the largest irri cation schemes re-
Gently reported is from Colusa county. 1t
is intended to tap the Sacramento river
above the intersection of the north fork OF
Stony creek, north of the town OF Will
Iiams. The ditch will then run past Ar
buckle and College City and cross into
Yolo county at Dunnigan's. 1t is proposed
to traverse this county and continue the
ditch on to Suisun bay. The total cost of
the canal and its branches is estimated at
some 100000. 1t is calculated that $50
square miles, or 265,2o0 acres of land. will
be covered by this ditch. The estimate is
for a canal 100 feet wide at the top of the
banks and sixty feet wide at the bottom,
the depth not being given. Such a canal
would traverse a large section OF exceed
ingly fertile land, most OF which it has
been claimed is adapted to cultivation
without the aid Of irrigation. Ii the in
tention is to use the water only in seasons
when not sufficient rain falls the scheme
is a good one, but as a rule, where it is
possible to raise trees, vines, etc, without
the application of artificial moisture it is
much better not to engage in lrrlgatlng.
In Ventura county also a number OF
ditch enterprises are under way, by which
it is intended to irrigate large sections OF
the fertile Santa Clara valley.
In San Diego county a couple OF reser-
voirs of large size are being constructed
for the purpose of storing the water OF
| several mountain streams. 1t is said that
| from these two reservoirs alone not less
| than $4,000 acres of now barren soil will
| be irrigated, beside supplying the city OF
| San Diego with an abundance OF water for
domestic use. Every enterprise OF this
kind has been a success, n it is CONT
| IDENTIFY predicted that before many years
| shall nave passed none of the prodlgal
| waste Of water during the winter will be
| seen and that reservoirs will be construc-
ted of a size sufficient to contain water
enough to irrigate every acre OF arabic
| land in southern California.
Another scheme has recently been
moeted for the diversion OF water from
the Colorado river upon the desert north
of Fort Yuma. The plan is perfectly
feasible. and it has been proven by actual
demonstration that the soil of this so -called
desert, when irrigated, is as fertile as any
to be found in the whole state of Califor-
MIA. The proposed irrigating canal can
be constructed without encountering any
very serious engineering difficulties, and
all that is necessary is capital in order to
create an oasis of many thousands OF acres
of wheat innoW the most barren of deserts
The proposed canal is to be taken out OF
the river at a point about twentY-eigh1
miles above Yuma. 1t will then follow
down the river, irrigating about 1900
acres between the Colorado and the Gils
rivers: thence, by a fume across the ella
irrigating about $4,000 acres between ella
City and the town of Yuma; thence
through the mesas near the old Quarter
masters depot, following the foot of sale
mesas on the west to the Sonora line, and
irrigating 30O,00 0 acres of as fine land a
ever the sun shone upon. The canal vii
be forty feet wide at the bottom, abou
one hundred miles long and from ffteeI
to twenty feet deep.
BRIGHT OUTLOOK.
Charles Anceney of Mooreland who i
good authority makes these timely re
marks: 1.-THE cattle industry is just a
good today and offers just as Favorable
prospects for the future as in the past
But times are changing and we mus
change u tactics accordingly. Dlvid
the consolidated interest between more In
dividuals; have on hand no more Ilv'
stock than the country can fairly support
have them of better quality; brand NOR
calves and a them and their mother
after they are branded; reside in Mentan
and put up hay instead of figuring tn
profits of our herds at our desks In New
York Or London"
THE poTAToE CROP PAYS
A year ago many of our farmers, say
the Kstsop (W. IT, Pioneer, decided tina
there was no profit in raising potatoes
therefore they did not plant more potatoe
than they they thought they would nee
themselves. With potatoes selling no
for $3.50 per sack, our ranchers reallz
whist a mistake they made. The deman
for good potatoes on the sound is just Q
steady as the demand for flour. 1t IS
fact that Puget sound soil can pfoduc
} finer potatoes than can be got from an
other source. As to the quantity, VIII.
| about 800 to 500 bushels is about the raj
t of yield. Then why not produce our oW
potatoes, and not send thousands OF do